[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B: “Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth”

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:


-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Aug 18, 2018 8:13 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B: “Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth”



DearFriends,
 
ThisSunday’s sermon is entitled “Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth”and deals with all the lessons.  Here itis:  
 
Today we heard thewonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1st Kings (2:10-12,3:3-14) that told why King David’s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.  As you recall, when God promised him anything(wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.  Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts,uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you askedyour specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car,clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?  I know how I’d feel- I’d think they were sickand had lost it!  But Solomon, when hecould have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.  This is good advice for us too.  Did you notice Paul’s warning in Ephesians(5:15-17): “Act like people with good sense and not like fools.  These are evil times, so make every minutecount.  Don't be stupid. Instead, findout what the Lord wants you to do.”  Thenthe Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: “Then don't say cruel things anddon't tell lies.  Do good instead of eviland try to live at peace.”  Psalm 111:10asays “Respect and obey the LORD!  This isthe first step to wisdom and good sense.” 
 
Wisdom- what is it andhow do we get it?  The Random Housedictionary defines wisdom as “Knowledge of what is true or right coupled withgood judgment.”  Wisdom starts with thefacts.  When I was a little girl, you canguess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a realchatterbox!  She finally taught me thislittle poem: “A wise old owl lived in an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?!”  It didn’t work- I still ran my mouth, but mymother really did have a point.  How manyears did God give us for collecting the facts? (Sure- two.)  And how many eyesdid God give us for collecting the facts? (Again- two.)  And how manymouths?  (Only one.)  Doesn’t that tell us something?  Remember Ephesians 5?  God expects us to have good sense, not actlike fools, and not be stupid.  (Isn’tthat what it says?)  To be wise, we mustget our facts first.
 
There’s a problem withthis Bible advice.  Did you notice howPaul reminded us that these are evil times? There was a sign on a plumber’s window that said, “We repair what yourhusband (or wife) tried to fix.”  Everybody’sgot to be an expert, even if they don’t have the facts.  Our culture teaches us to pick a side andtreat anyone who doesn’t agree with us as the enemy because they are eitherstupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.  Can you even start to guess how manymarriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendshipsare lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and howmany arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse orviolence?  Did you hear about theminister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?  They stood along a well-traveled road with asign that said, “Turn around, the end is near!” Along came a car speeding by.  Thedriver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: “Religious fanatics-trying to tell me what to believe!”  Thenext thing they heard was a huge splash. “Lost another one,” said the minister. “Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.  Maybe we should just say “Bridge out.”  Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from thisdriver how to listen to others.  James (1:19-20)says, “My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to getangry.  If you are angry, you cannot doany of the good things that God wants done.” So what’s the Bible way?  Listen,truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child.  
 
Here are some Satan-trapsto avoid if we’re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:
 
Don’t enter a discussion “armed for     battle.”  Your purpose is not to     win.  Your purpose is to understand.
 
Don’t be so busy thinking about how you’re     going to respond that you don’t hear where the other person is coming     from.
 
Don’t assume the other person is evil or even     wrong.  Instead, if the person is a     Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of     view.  Treat them with honor and     respect. (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”)
 
Don’t keep trouble going- that’s a greater     sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred     between people.
 
Don’t call someone on the phone to tell them     about another person.  Instead, talk     to the person himself or herself.      If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal     of helping the other person.
 
Finally, remember in last week’s gospel how     Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.  Follow his advice.  Stop worrying about other people and     work on your own spiritual life.      When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus’ name?  What bad habits do you have?  What are you struggling with     yourself?  How are you doing in your     Bible reading and prayer life?  When     is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and     spirit?

 
May God bless us as wecontinue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points ofview, and to grow in Godly wisdom.   MayGod bless us as we follow James’ advice: “My dear friends, be quick to listenand slow to speak or to get angry.”  Andmay God help us remember his further advice: “If you are angry, you cannot doany of the good things that God wants done.” 
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under“Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org.
 
Blessedpreaching,
JudyBoli
St.Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw,Michigan

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